Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101101 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 506(@200wpm)___ 404(@250wpm)___ 337(@300wpm)
“My sister’s been through a lot,” Dominick says, snapping me out of my thoughts. “You wanted in on the expansion, you got it. You wanted the contacts that came along with it, and you have them. You don’t have to take her too.”
He’s right—I don’t need her. But fuck if I don’t want her.
And the fact that marrying her aligns with my plan to avenge my father’s death only makes it that much sweeter.
“The deal was that the three families are united by marriage and produce heirs,” I remind him—and myself. “And that’s what’s going to happen.”
“Dom,” a woman says, poking her head out the door. “Is everything—oh. Hello,” she says, stepping out and going to Dominick’s side. “We haven’t formally met yet. I’m Peyton, Dom’s wife.” She extends her hand, and I don’t miss the way Dominick grinds his jaw at the thought of his wife shaking hands with me. “And you’re the asshole who’s forcing my sister-in-law to marry you.”
I chuckle and nod. “That’s me.”
“She’ll never love you,” Peyton says matter-of-factly.
“Good thing I’m not looking for love,” I tell her.
Which is the truth. Love is a wasted emotion. It causes men like Dominick and my father to make shitty choices. I base my decisions on logic, data, and facts.
Yet you’re forcing Brielle to marry you.
I shove the thought to the side.
I’m doing what my dad would’ve wanted.
What’s best for the future of the company.
And Brielle is nothing more than a pawn in this game of chess.
The Antonovs and Russos made their moves.
And I made mine.
Check-fucking-mate.
10
Brielle
“One more breath here. Good. Let’s reach up and over. A nice stretch here. Good. Exhale. Now switch sides.” The Pilates instructor lowers her left arm and then swings her right arm up.
“Oh my God, it feels like I’m going to stretch this baby right out of my uterus,” Dani murmurs, making me laugh.
Several of the women in the class glare our way, but I just glare back, making them look away. With my family’s reputation, all it takes is one look for them to go running in fear for their life.
“Well, at least if you do go into labor, you’re full-term,” I point out.
She started going to Pilates with me a few months ago when she mentioned her body feeling stiff from the pregnancy. Since she’s a newbie, when we go together, we go to the beginner class so it’s safe for her.
Unfortunately, this is also the class all the pregnant women in Harbor Point seem to go to. Being surrounded by happy, pregnant women isn’t easy, but I always thought that maybe, one day, this would be me. Now, I’m not so sure anymore.
“Yeah, but the doctor said she’s on the smaller side, so she’d like for her to bake as long as possible.” Dani rubs her belly, and I can’t help the envy I feel toward her.
She has it all. The loving husband, a precious little girl on the way. She works for her family’s real estate development company alongside her brother who values her thoughts and opinions.
Meanwhile, I have brothers who want to protect me yet don’t really know me. A fake boyfriend, who will soon become my fake fiancé and then my fake husband. And thanks to Kane, starting a family is out of the question.
He thinks I’m going to give him an heir once we’re married, but little does he know that I’m on the pill, and I have no intention of getting off it. I considered getting the shot or something more permanent, like an IUD, but the pill is what I was prescribed when my gynecologist found cysts forming on my ovaries, and she recommended that I stay on it since it seems to be working.
We finish our session, and then Dani and I head out to grab a coffee at Lattes and Words—the coffee shop and bookstore Nicole owns.
“There she is!” Nicole exclaims when we walk inside. “I was beginning to think you’d dropped off the face of the earth.”
“Dramatic much?” I mutter, walking up to the counter.
“Not when we hang out almost every Friday night and I don’t hear from you.”
“She had a date,” Dani chimes in.
“Oh!” Nicole’s eyes light up. “Not with Theo, I hope?”
“No.” I clear my throat, preparing to drop the bomb. “With Kane Morgan.”
Nicole’s eyes go as wide as saucers. “The one-night stand?”
Dani whips her head around to look at me in shock.
“Don’t repeat that to my brothers,” I warn.
I might be close with my sisters-in-law, but their loyalty lies with their husbands.
Dani shakes her head. “You hooked up with Kane? When?”
“The night before your baby shower.”
She curses under her breath, and Nicole says, “What am I missing?”
I glance around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. Daniil and Dani’s guard, Ian, are standing by the door, and there are a few customers drinking coffee in the corner.